Simone Blum and DSP Alice won again in Stuttgart. Photo (c) Nanna Nieminen for World of Showjumping.

The 115,000 Euro Mercedes German Masters, a 1.55m class with a jump-off, was Friday night’s highlight in Stuttgart. Only the twelve best horse-and-rider combinations from previous classes had qualified and seven pairs cleared the first round, joining the jump-off.

Using a spectator judging tool, the audience got to share their say on how many riders they thought would join the jump-off, which fence would cause most trouble and who would win. When it came to the winner, the fully packed Porsche Arena was totally right – 34 percent voted for Simone Blum (GER), and she did not dissapoint. Riding the 10-year-old mare DSP Alice (Askari x Landrebell), Blum clocked the winning time of 33,64 seconds in the jump-off securing the pair's second victory in just as many days.

Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) on the 15-year-old gelding Cantinero (Cento x Cash) had to settle for the runner-up position with a time of 35,24 seconds, while Marcus Ehning (GER) on the 11-year-old mare Cristy (Canturo x Landlord) took the third spot with a time of 35,48 seconds. Pénélope Leprevost (FRA) on the 9-year-old stallion Urano de Cartigny (Diamant de Semilly x Double Espoir) placed fourth and Jur Vrieling (NED) on the 8-year-old gelding Quality FZ (Quintender x Eurocommerce Berlin) took the fifth spot.

Earlier in the day the Prize of Easy-Ticket-Service, a 1.50m Longines Ranking class, went to Jur Vrieling (NED) on Zypern III (Casall x Coriano) with a time of 58,98 seconds. Michael Jung (GER) on fischerSolution (Carthino Z) placed second with a time of 59,22 and Robert Whitaker (GBR) on Catwalk IV (Colman x Corleone) took the third spot with a time of 59,24. Maurice Tebbel (GER) on Chacco’s Son (Chacco Blue x Lander III) placed fourth and the fifth spot went to Marcus Ehning (GER) on Pret A Tout (Hiram Chambertin x Stew Boy).

The first five-star class of the day, the 1.45m Prize of Raumpflege AG went to Pedro Veniss (BRA). Riding Anaya Ste Hermelle (Andiamo x Paladin Des Ifs), Veniss clocked the winning time of 59,34 seconds. Michael Jung (GER) on fischerChelsea (Check In x Argent) took the second place with a time of 59,40 seconds, while Peder Fredricson (SWE) on Clarence (Clinton x Lancer III) placed third and Bertram Allen (IRL) on It’s Me (Cicero Z x Poor Boy) fourth. The fifth spot went to Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) on Savita (Stakkato Gold x Centesimo I).